Mantel mounting system

ABSTRACT

A fireplace mantel mounting system including a mantel and a laterally adjustable support. The mantel and the support include cooperating hardware sets enabling the mantel to be hung on the support. The support defines a horizontal slot for receiving fasteners for attaching the support to a wall. The horizontal slots permit lateral adjustment of the support facilitate centering of the support on a fireplace opening. After the support is attached to the wall in the proper position, the mantel is hung on the support by way of the cooperating hardware sets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to fireplace mantels and shelves, and more particularly to a system for mounting such mantels and shelves on a wall.

Fireplaces are commonly installed in a wide variety of structures including homes and commercial buildings. They are generally located behind a wall with a fireplace opening extending through the wall to the fireplace hearth.

It is customary to affix and/or otherwise provide a mantel on the wall over the fireplace opening. Mantels often include a shelf located over the fireplace opening, and a pair of side pieces extending down from the shelf on either side of the fireplace opening. It is sometimes also desirable to provide additional shelving and/or bookcases around the fireplace opening for supporting and displaying for example, photographs and books.

Unfortunately, affixing mantels and/or shelves to the wall can be difficult and time consuming. One known method includes attaching a number of individual hooks to the wall at the locations of the wall studs. The method also includes attaching a number of hooks on the back of the mantel that interfit with the hooks on the wall. Once each of the hooks is properly positioned and affixed to the wall, the hooks on the mantel are aligned with the hooks on the wall and the mantel is hung on the wall. This method suffers in that it can be cumbersome and time consuming to properly position the hooks on the wall and the mantel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aforementioned problems are overcome by the present invention comprising a mantel and a mounting support for the mantel. Cooperating mounting hardware is mounted on both the mantel and the support at standard locations, so that the mantel can be easily mounted on the support. The support includes means for permitting the support to be mounted on a wall at a plurality of lateral locations, facilitating the rapid mounting of the support centered on the fireplace opening.

In one embodiment, the support is an elongated board or plate defining one or more elongated horizontal slots. The slots are adapted to receive conventional fasteners for attaching the support to a wall in a plurality of lateral locations.

In another embodiment, the mounting hardware includes a plurality of cleats and brackets that are aligned on the mantel shelf and on the support so that the cleats can be inserted into the brackets to support the shelf on the wall.

In another embodiment, the mantel includes a shelf and first and second side pieces extending downwardly from opposite ends of the shelf. The support includes a cross member under the shelf, and first and second legs extending downwardly from opposite ends of the cross member. The support legs are under the mantel side pieces. The mantel side pieces and the support legs each include a set of mounting hardware for mounting the side pieces on the support legs when the mantel is mounted on the support.

The present invention also includes a method for installing a mantle on a wall, including the steps of: (a) placing an elongated support on a wall, the support having a plurality of spaced apart brackets; (b) inserting a fastener through a horizontal slot in the support so that the fastener is aligned with a desired wall location; (c) attaching the support to the wall with the fastener; and (d) hanging a mantel shelf having a plurality of spaced apart cleats on the support by inserting the cleats into the brackets.

The lateral adjustability of the support facilitates the rapid and proper installation of mantels and shelves.

These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reference to the detailed description of the current embodiments and the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of the mantel system including the mantel and the support.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cleat on the mantel.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bracket on the support.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the support cross member and one leg.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view along line 4 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the rear of the mantel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENT

A mantel mounting system according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 and is generally designated 10. The mantle mounting system 10 includes a mounting support 12 for attachment to a wall 14, and a mantel 16 that attaches to the support 12.

As shown in FIG. 1, the support 12 may be comprised of wood, plastic or another suitable material and includes a cross member 18, and first and second support legs 20, 22 extending downwardly from the cross member 18. The cross member includes an upper surface 24, a lower surface 26, a front surface 28, a rear surface 30 and first and second ends 32 and 34. Shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, an elongated slot 50 or a plurality of slots 50 extend along a substantial portion of the longitudinal length of the cross member 18. The slots 50 extend through the front 28 and rear 30 surfaces of the cross member 18, and are sized so that a conventional fastener 52 may be inserted through the slot 50 and be slidable within the slot 50. Also shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the front surface 28 of the cross member 18 includes a plurality of spaced apart brackets 54. As shown, the cross member 18 includes two brackets 54 located near the opposing ends 32, 34 of the cross member 18. Alternatively, any number of brackets 54 could be spaced at a variety of locations on the cross member 18. Shown in FIG. 3, the brackets 54 include a metal plate 55 that defines one or more slots or holes 56. As illustrated, each bracket 54 includes two slots 56 aligned vertically in the plate 55. Shown in FIG. 5, the front surface 28 of the cross member 18 may include notches 58 behind the slots 56 for receiving prongs 60 (described below). The notches 58 generally extend below the lower edge 62 of the slots 56. The brackets 54 are secured to the cross member 18 by conventional fasteners 64, such as wood screws.

The support 20, 22 include a front surface 36 and first and second ends 38 and 40. The first end 38 of the legs 20, 22 is attached to the lower surface 26 of the cross member 18 at the ends 32, 34 of the cross member. In one embodiment, shown in FIG. 4, a pair of dowels 42, 44 extend from the first end 38 of the legs 20, 22 and into corresponding holes (not shown) in the lower surface 26 of the cross member 18. An adhesive such as wood glue may be disposed on the dowels 42, 44 before they are inserted into the holes for creating a secure attachment between the cross member 18 and the legs 20, 22. In one embodiment, the legs 20, 22 include slots 66 extending through the legs 20, 22 in a direction transverse to the longitudinal length of the legs 20, 22. Similar to the slots 50 in the cross member, the slots 66 are sized to receive a conventional fastener 68. The legs 20, 22 may also include brackets 70. As shown in FIG. 1, each leg 20, 22 includes one bracket near the second end 40 of the leg. Alternatively, one or more brackets 70 may be disposed at various locations on the legs 20, 22. The brackets 70 are generally the same as the brackets 54 on the cross member 18, and therefore will not be described again in detail.

As shown in FIG. 1, the mantel 16 includes a shelf 100, and first and second mantel side pieces 103, 104. The shelf 100 includes a horizontal member 101 and a cross beam 102. The horizontal member includes an upper surface 106, and a lower surface 108, a front surface 110, a rear surface 120 (shown in FIG. 6), and first and second ends 122, 124. The cross beam 102 is generally a rectangular board that extends along substantially all of the lower surface 108 of the horizontal member 101 and is conventionally attached to the horizontal member 101 between the side pieces 103, 104. The cross beam 102 includes an upper surface 107, a lower surface 109, a front surface 111, a rear surface 121, and first and second ends 123, 125. As shown in FIG. 6, a portion 131 of the horizontal member 101 extends past the rear surface 121 of the cross beam 102 to form an overhang. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the rear surface 121 of the cross beam 102 includes a plurality of cleats 126. The cleats 126 are spaced along the rear surface 121 so that they can be aligned with the brackets 54 on the support 12. As illustrated, the cleats 126 extend from a rectangular plate 128. The cleats 126 include a first member 130 that extends normal to the plate 128, and a second member 132 that extends downwardly from the first member 130. The plate 128 is generally rectangular and may be formed from steel, aluminum, plastic, or any other suitable material. The plate 128 is attached to the shelf 100 by conventional fasteners 134, such as wood screws.

The first and second mantel side pieces 103, 104 extend downwardly from the lower surface 108 of the horizontal member 101 at the ends 122, 124 on opposite sides of the cross beam 102. The mantel side pieces 103, 104 generally include a first end 136, a second end 138, a rear surface 140, an outer edge 142, and an inner edge 144. The mantel side pieces 103, 104 attach to the horizontal member 101 and the cross beam 102 in a conventional manner, such as a pair of blocks 146, 148 that extend over a portion of the rear surface 121 of the cross beam 102 and a portion of the rear surface 140 of the mantel side pieces 103, 104 and attach to both the cross beam 102 and the side pieces 103, 104 with conventional fasteners 150, such as wood screws. The side pieces 103, 104 may also include side panels 152, 154 that extend along and attach to the outer edge 142 of the side pieces 103, 104. A portion 156 of the side panels 152, 154 extends past the rear surface 140 of the side pieces 103, 104 to form an overhang. In addition, the side pieces may each include a cleat 160 or a set of cleats. The cleats 160 are generally the same as the cleats 126 on the cross beam 102. The cleats 160 are positioned such that they can be aligned with the brackets 70 on the support legs 20, 22.

In operation, the mantel support 12 is positioned against the wall 14 with the rear surface 30 of the cross member adjacent to the wall 14. One or more conventional fasteners 52 are inserted through the slot 50 at any location along the slot 50, such as directly aligned with a stud in the wall 14. The fasteners 52 are then inserted into the wall 14 and attached to the wall 14. Before the fasteners 52 are tightened against the support 12, the support 12 may be re-positioned on the wall by sliding the fasteners 52 along the slot 50. When the support 12 is positioned as desired, the fasteners are tightened to secure the support 12 to the wall. If the legs 20, 22 include slots 66, they are attached to the wall 14 in a similar manner by inserting fasteners 68 through the slots 66. Once the support 12 is secured to the wall 14, the mantel 16 can be hung on the support 12. This requires holding the mantel 16 in front of the support 12 so that the cleats 126 and 160 on the cross beam 102 and the mantel side pieces 103, 104 align with the brackets 54 and 70 on the support 12 and the support legs 20, 22. The second member 132 of each cleat 126 and 160 is inserted through the slot 56 and into the notch 58 of the brackets 54 and 70 and lowered so that the cleats 126 and 160 are retained by the brackets 54 and 70, securing the mantel 16 to the support 12 and the wall 14. Obviously, though the brackets are described in connection with the support 12 and the cleats are described in connection with the mantel 16 it would be equally effective to reverse some or all of the attachment points to include cleats on the support and brackets on the mantel. Similarly, any other set of corresponding mounting hardware could be used instead of cleats and brackets. When the mantel 16 is secured to the support 12, the overhanging portions 131 and 156 on the mantel 16 cover the support 12 when the mantel 16 is hung to provide an aesthetically pleasing finish.

Alternative Embodiment

In an alternative embodiment, the support 12 and the mantel 16 do not include support legs 20, 22 and mantel side pieces 103, 104. This provides for easy mounting of a shelf similar to the shelf 100 at any desired location on a wall 14. The support cross member 18 is essentially the same as described in the above embodiment, as is the rear of the cross beam 102, such that each includes corresponding spaced brackets or cleats. In another embodiment, the cross beam 102 may also be removed, and the brackets or cleats may be disposed on the rear surface 120 of the horizontal member 101. In operation, the shelf 100 is mounted to the cross member 18 similar to the mounting of the entire mantel as described in the first embodiment.

The above descriptions are those of current embodiments of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the Doctrine of Equivalents. 

1. A mantel mounting system comprising: a support including a cross member having opposite ends and first and second support legs extending downwardly from said opposite ends, said support defining receiver means for receiving fasteners therethrough at a plurality of horizontal locations for attaching said support to a wall; a mantel including a shelf portion overlying said cross member and first and second mantel legs extending downwardly from said shelf and overlying said support legs; and attachment means for attaching said mantel shelf portion to said cross member, and for attaching said first and second mantel legs to said first and second support legs respectively.
 2. The mantel mounting system of claim 1 wherein said receiver means comprises at least one horizontal slot in said cross member.
 3. The mantel mounting system of claim 2 wherein said receiver means further comprises at least one horizontal slot in each of said first and second support legs.
 4. The mantel mounting system of claim 1 wherein said attachment means comprises prongs and receptacles capable of retaining said prongs.
 5. The mantel mounting system of claim 1 wherein said attachment means are included on all of said mantel shelf portion, said first mantel leg, and said second mantel leg.
 6. The mantel mounting system of claim 5 wherein said attachment means are included on all of said cross member, said first support leg, and said second support leg.
 7. The mantel mounting system of claim 6 wherein said first and second mantel legs include first and second ends respectively adjacent said shelf portion, and said first and second support legs include first and seconds ends respectively adjacent said cross member.
 8. A mantel mounting system comprising: a bracket including a cross member and first and second bracket legs, said cross member including a longitudinal length; said cross member defining at least one slot extending along a substantial portion of said longitudinal length for adjustably attaching said bracket to a wall, said bracket including a plurality of prongs or receptacles, at least one of said prongs or receptacles on each of said cross member, said first bracket leg and said second bracket leg; and a mantel including a shelf and first and second mantel legs, said mantel including a plurality of prongs or receptacles with at least one of said prongs or receptacles on each of said shelf, said first mantel leg and said second mantel leg, said prongs and said receptacles spaced apart on said bracket and said mantel such that said each of said prongs aligns with one of said receptacles and can engage said receptacle to support said mantel on said bracket.
 9. The mantel mounting system of claim 8 wherein said first and second mantel legs and said first and second bracket legs have first and second ends, said first end of said mantel legs adjacent to said shelf, said first end of said bracket legs adjacent to said cross member, wherein at least one of said prongs and said receptacles located near said second ends.
 10. The mantel mounting system of claim 8 further including a slot in each of said bracket legs, said slot extending transversely across each of said legs.
 11. A shelf mounting system comprising: a bracket having a longitudinal length, said bracket defining a slot extending along a portion of said longitudinal length, said bracket including a plurality of first shelf support means, said first shelf support means spaced apart along said longitudinal length; and a shelf having a longitudinal length, said shelf including a plurality of second shelf support means, said second shelf support means spaced apart along said longitudinal length, said first and second shelf support means disposed on said bracket and said shelf such that they align and can be engaged to support said shelf on said bracket.
 12. The shelf mounting system of claim 11 wherein said first and second support means are comprised of prongs and receptacles that interfit to support said shelf on said bracket.
 13. The shelf mounting system of claim 12 wherein said bracket and said shelf include first and second ends, at least one of said first and second shelf support means located proximate to each of said first and second ends.
 14. A method for mounting a mantel on a wall comprising the steps of: positioning a support on a wall, the support defining at lest one aperture for receiving fasteners at a plurality of horizontal locations, the support further including first hardware; inserting fasteners through selected ones of the apertures in the cross member and into desired wall locations; and providing a mantel having second hardware aligned with the first hardware; and attaching the mantel to the support by engaging the second hardware with the first hardware.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the support includes a cross member and a pair of opposite support legs extending downwardly from the cross member, each of the support legs and the cross members defining a horizontal slot.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the first hardware comprises a plurality of receivers and the second hardware comprises a plurality of hooks. 